Articles by Susie Ellis

Apparently Peter’s motorcycle (did I mention it was a “Boss Hoss”?) got quite a response at the Red Mountain Spa. Even Denise Perkins, the brilliant marketing director, ended up getting a wild ride through the red rocks on the back of the bike. I just hope they didn’t blast out of there while people were […]

Got a call from my husband Peter last night. He was at the Red Mountain Adventure Spa in Utah and had just finished a two-hour massage. He is a happy camper because this is “his” week. He rode his motorcycle all the way from Manhattan to Sturgis, South Dakota. And if you wonder why he […]

A rare treat for me…Dinner at a hip new restaurant here in New York escorted by my good friend Bob Grimes, who introduced me to my husband, Peter, 21 years ago. Bob and Peter were both guests at the Golden Door spa while I was working there, and Bob was the catalyst for our relationship. […]

Yesterday I received a request from a reporter asking about casino spas (specifically about why Spafinder added a Casino Spa category on its website). A colleague, Nikita, and I worked on our response. After we sent it she suggested that I post it on my blog, as she thought others would find it interesting. So […]

Yesterday, I was scheduled to be a guest on the Travel Queen Radio Show, which is hosted by Michigan-based Jane Degrow. Jane wanted me to talk about great spa bargains, so I spent some time looking at the Best Buys and Day Spa Deals section of our website before going on the air. I ended […]

In a previous blog entry, I mentioned how much I enjoy learning about the history of various spa brands. I love finding out whose idea it was to build the spa, why they built it, how the spa got its name, how much it cost, how the brand developed, etc. So as I began my […]

In case you missed it, here is the piece that Good Morning America did entitled “Top American Spa Escapes”. In the number-one slot was the new Mayflower Inn and Spa in Washington, CT. We here at Spa Finder also gave this spa kudos. The ABC footage of the Mayflower Spa gives a nice glimpse of […]

Just received this email from Adriana Mnuchin, who is the proprietor of the new Mayflower Inn and Spa in Washington, Connecticut (see this entry from a few weeks ago). Looks like we weren’t the only ones who felt that the Mayflower will set a new standard. I am hoping that Good Morning America will stress […]

Dog spas. OK, OK, let me add quickly that I am a dog lover and had a black Labrador for 15 years until her death a few years ago. And I did take her regularly for grooming and loved picking her up all clean and fresh-smelling. But I don’t like the term “dog spa” for […]

Interesting industry news this week: Lather Spa, an L.A.-based skincare company (with a great name in my opinion), opened in Manhattan. What is even more interesting is that it opened in the same space that used to be the Greenhouse Day Spa. That took me by surprise, as the Greenhouse closing was not on my […]

Integrative medicine and ayurvedic medicine makes its way to mainstream as Western philosophies turn to Eastern philosophy for guidance on well being.

I remember they were doing some very new things back then – like launching a “Spiritual Fitness” program. And today they are still pioneering programs and leading the spa world in so many ways. I’ll share highs and lows in my next few entries, but suffice it to say that so far I am most impressed that the guests seem very, very happy to be here.

Had a fun outing with three friends last evening to the new G Spa & Lounge in the meatpacking district of Manhattan. G Spa is the new underground space at the Gansevoort Hotel that is a spa by day and a “hot” nightclub at night. Hmmmm, that means Gansevoort is generating income from a basement […]

Highs The “Awakening Theme”. Like Miraval with its “Mindfulness,” awakening is seen in their logo, their purpose, their conversation, and in time will likely join the lexicon of spa experiences even outside of The Lodge at Woodloch Food is some of the best I’ve ever had at a spa. Healthy but five-star quality presentation and […]

Before I continue with more branding tidbits, I have to tell you about today’s experience. Two of the four yearly meetings of the Spa Finder Board of Directors take place at spas. This time, we are at the brand-new Lodge at Woodloch. In fact, we are their “soft opening” group, here for three days to […]

Six Senses Spas has one of my favorite spa brand names and logos. I remember when I first saw one of their ads (they are well known for gorgeous photography) with the name Six Senses. It was instantly memorable because it made me wonder, “Hmmm, don’t we have five senses? What would the sixth be?” […]

Having just returned from my trip to Dubai, I am planning to rest over the weekend. But my husband Peter calls from the Spa at Grand Lake in Lebanon, Connecticut, where he had ridden his Harley-Davidson motorcycle for an overnight stay. He tells me the weather is so gorgeous and the scenery so beautiful that […]

My final day in Dubai included a spa forum organized by Michael Loh from Spa Asia Magazine and Christiane Walter, from Messe Frankfurt Exhibition. The organizers invited a panel of spa managers from Dubai to address our international group of spa enthusiasts who had come to learn about the industry in the Middle East. The […]

The next stop was back in Dubai: Park Hyatt, Amara Spa. Loved it! The entire property was impressive with a beautifully done Moroccan theme, while avoiding being “over-themed”. I understand why people quite often describe Dubai as something between Las Vegas (without gambling) and Disneyland. We arrived at the Park Hyatt just as the sun […]

The spa at the Madinat Jumeirah is next on my schedule. I had been looking forward to seeing their Six Senses Spa ever since it was ranked top spa in the Middle East in our 2005 Readers’ Choice Awards. The readers did not disappoint me. I have to say, I liked this spa’s Arabian-themed design. […]